The Kosrae starling, also known as Kosrae Island starling, and formerly as Kusaie Mountain starling, is an extinct bird from the family of starlings (Sturnidae). It was endemic to the montane forests on the island of Kosrae which belong to the Caroline Islands in the south-western Pacific.
Region
Caroline Islands (Micronesia, western Pacific)
Typical Environment
Endemic to the montane rainforests of Kosrae, it occupied steep interior ridges and mature native forest. It likely foraged in the mid to upper canopy among fruiting trees and along forest edges. Historic accounts and habitat associations suggest reliance on intact, tall forest with plentiful cavities and fruit resources. Its distribution never extended beyond Kosrae.
Altitude Range
unknown
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This starling was known only from a few 19th‑century specimens taken on the high, forested interior of Kosrae in the Caroline Islands. It is believed to have vanished soon after, likely due to introduced predators (such as rats) and habitat alteration. Its extinction highlights the vulnerability of island-restricted birds to rapid ecological change.
Temperament
unknown
Flight Pattern
unknown
Social Behavior
Little is recorded. By analogy with related Aplonis starlings, it likely foraged in pairs or small groups and may have nested in tree cavities, but specific breeding behavior is unrecorded.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
unknown
Plumage
Largely uniform sooty to glossy black plumage with a robust, starling-like build.
Diet
Direct observations are lacking, but like many island Aplonis starlings it likely consumed a mix of fruits, berries, and invertebrates. It probably gleaned insects from foliage and bark and took soft fruits when available. Seasonal shifts in fruiting may have influenced its diet composition.
Preferred Environment
Mid- to upper-canopy of mature montane rainforest, including along ridgelines and forest interior. It likely exploited fruiting native trees and areas with abundant epiphytes and invertebrates.
